Cactaceae plant named &#34;Rita Scott&#34;

ABSTRACT

A plant variety of the Cactaceae family,  Schlumbergera truncata,  called ‘Rita Scott’ having a deep colored bloom characterized as R.H.S 74 A (red-purple group). The new variety has a strong resistance to bud abscission, a strong propensity for buds to mature and flower, an erect growth habit, and an ability to grow well in relatively cold temperatures.

LATIN NAME OF GENUS AND SPECIES OF PLANT CLAIMED

The new plant is a species of Schlumbergera truncata.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new plant's varietal denomination is ‘Rita Scott.’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of theCactaceae family. The new variety is named Schlumbergera truncata ‘RitaScott’. The inventor is Thomas H. Boyle, a citizen of the United States.

Many varieties of Schlumbergera truncata tend to bloom in the winter inthe Northern Hemisphere. Because of their blooming time, there is alarge market for these varieties during the Thanksgiving and Christmasseasons as a decorative plant. In fact, the common name for these plantsis Christmas Cactus.

There are many commercially developed varieties of Christmas Cactus.Patented varieties include: (‘Lavender Doll’ (Cobia, U.S. Plant Pat. No.3,690); ‘Christmas Charm’ (Cobia et al., U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,196);‘Rudolph’ (Higaki, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,234); ‘Dasher’ (Higaki, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 7,367); and Rudolph II (Martens, U.S. Plant Pat. No.10,487).

For many varieties of the species, bud abscission is a problem: a largeportion of the initial buds that form on the plant fall off before theyreach full maturity. Furthermore, many cultivars possess the furtherundesirable characteristic that many of the buds that do set on theplant fail to mature and bloom. Preferred cultivars resist budabscission, as well as produce buds that have a propensity to mature.

The present variety, ‘Rita Scott’ was developed at the University ofMassachusetts, Amherst, and is a hybrid.

‘Rita Scott’ is characterized by its flower color, large flowers,reflexed tepals, and large phylloclades. The flower tepals arepredominantly R.H.S. 74 A (red-purple group) with portions of the whitesepaloid tube being visible when flowers are mature as well as the whitebasal portions of the blades.

‘Rita Scott’ resists bud abscission, as well as produces buds that havea propensity to mature. The present variety sets many buds perphylloclade often 2 to 3, many of which reach full maturity and bloom,generally 1 to 2.

This present variety is also outstanding for its propensity to grow talland upright without too much spreading, thus giving it a denseappearance.

In addition, the new variety also possesses the additional commerciallydesirable characteristics of a strong propensity to branch with minimalpruning, also contributing to its dense appearance.

The inventor has asexually reproduced the new variety at a commercialnursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif. through three successive generations bycuttings, and has found that the combination of characteristics asherein disclosed remain firmly fixed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings serve, by color photographic means, toillustrate the new plant variety. The colors are represented as truly aspossible using conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a number of plants grown from a number ofcuttings in one pot of the new variety illustrating the overallappearance and form of the plant, and the abundance of blooms.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the lowermost phylloclades of a number ofplants.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a number plants grown from a number of cuttingsin one pot of the new variety, illustrating the overall appearance andform of the plant, and the abundance of blooms.

FIG. 4 is a side view a number of plants grown from a number of cuttingsin one pot of the new variety, illustrating the compact and uprightgrowth habit of the new variety.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a fully opened bloom of the new variety.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a two buds removed from a plant of the newvariety as well as a bloom that has passed maturity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the new variety. The newvariety has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. Color designation and other values stated may deviateslightly from the stated values from flowering to flowering, but thedeviations will be within the range expected from varying environmental,seasonal and cultural conditions. Color designations were made accordingto the R.H.S. Color Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Societyof London, England.

The plants observed were grown in 6 inch pots. The tops of the plantsobserved were approximately 22 to 28 cm above the soil level. Thefollowing description is based on observations of optimally fertilizedplants grown at a nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif. The plants weremature. Temperatures in Half Moon Bay on average range from 55 to 65degrees Fahrenheit in the summer months, and from 45 to 55 degreesFahrenheit in the winter months.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

-   Name: Schlumbergera truncata ‘Rita Scott’. Classification: Family —    Cactaceae. Tribe — Rhipsalideae (Cactoideae). Genus — Schlumbergera.    Species — Schlumbergera truncata (Haw.) Moran [Epiphyllum truncatum    Haw.; Zygocactus truncatus (Haw.) K. Schum.]. Bailey and Bailey and    the staff of the Bailey Hortorium, Hortus Third (1976). Commercial —    Thanksgiving Cactus, Christmas Cactus.-   Form: Epiphytic, shade-loving, succulent, leafless plant with    jointed and branched stems.-   Stems: General — Irregular with much branching (especially when    pinched) of upright, adventitiously rootable, flattened phylloclades    that have a prominent midrib (especially in phylloclades at the base    of mature plants) and prominently toothed lateral wings. Branching    can be encouraged in the plant by pinching the top phylloclade.-   Phylloclades — general: The phylloclades are obovate to oblong,    elongated and flattened (particularly when young) and have a    transversely elongated, areole bearing, truncated apex. From the    transversely elongated apex, the wing margins generally run straight    or taper slightly to the basal portions (or they flare outwardly    somewhat, especially the uppermost phylloclades, where they then    taper and merge through a pointed, basal juncture with the    phylloclade therebelow). The margins are also toothed and an    axillary areole is associated with each tooth.-   Phylloclades — size: Length — Mature phylloclades that are over a    year old are usually between 55 mm and 60 mm. Width — Mature    phylloclades that are over a year old are usually 30 mm to 35 mm.    Thickness — Basal phylloclades with up to three levels of    phylloclades above them can be as thick as 1 cm at the midrib. Young    phylloclades are as thick as 3 to 4 mm at the center, and tapering    to 1 mm near the edges. Color: Mature phylloclades are predominately    R.H.S. 147 A (yellow-green group), young phylloclades are    predominately R.H.S. 146 A (yellow-green group).-   Phylloclades — midrib: General — Extends longitudinally of    phylloclade and continuously through joints with laterally tapering    cortex at wing insertions. Pith surrounds the vascular bundles that    branch and provide lateral extensions of the vascular system to    marginal teeth. Texture — Smooth, waxy epidermis with wax in small    embedded scales and becoming corky in basal stem areas with age.-   Phylloclades — wings: General shape — Generally flattened from    midrib cortex to tooth insertions with slight thinning taper toward    margins. Margins — Toothed (modified leaves). Texture — Succulent to    leathery with smooth, waxy epidermis having wax arranged in small    embedded scales and becoming corky in basal plant areas with age.-   Phylloclades — teeth: General shape — Generally flattened and    tapering along margins from wing insertion to an apex, having a    hyaline, pointed spine with nonpredicatable bending. Adaxial margin    shape: Generally concave, so that teeth project generally distally    of the phylloclade base in an alternate arrangement, but also with    both straight and convex adaxial margin tendencies. Abaxial margin    shape: Irregular with tendencies toward straight to convex. Tooth    Margins: Entire. Texture — Succulent to leathery with a smooth waxy    epidermis having wax in small embedded scales and becoming corky in    basal plant areas with age. Number — Usually 3 to 4 on each side,    mostly 3. Size — Teeth of mature phylloclades are 1 mm thick at    insertion point with wings. Areole to apex dimension (adaxial margin    side): usually 3 to 8 mm in length.-   Areoles: Terminal areole — Large, compound, elongated, oval-shaped    with several acicular bristles, copious multi-cellular hairs, and    several buds that may mature into either new phylloclades or    flowers. The opposite ends of the areole are located adjacent to    subsidiary areoles which are in turn located at the axils of the    uppermost teeth located at the distal end of the of phylloclade.    Axially areoles — Acicular bristles without glochidia but having    copious, short, brownish to colorless, multi-cellular hairs. Areoles    are sometimes found in the basal portion of the phylloclade in    association with a vestigial tooth that is less than 1 mm in length.    (Vestigial teeth not considered in teeth number or length of teeth.)-   Buds: Unarmored and ovid, generally R.H.S. 74 A (red-purple group)).-   Flowers: General — Sessile, zygomorphic, usually in pairs, triplets    or solitary, terminal, perfect, and epigynous with double hypanthium    and tepals (undifferentiated whorled sepals and petals) having a    spiral emergence as a perianth provided with a sepaloid series of    free tepals, a tube laminating series of tepals, and a tube forming    series of united tepals.-   Sepaloid series of tepals — general: Free tepals inserted on top of    the ovary. Shape: Deltoid in outer members of the whorl and grading    inwardly on the whorl to tepals which are ovate and less frequently    elliptical. Tips are broadly acuminate with some acute tendencies,    and margins are entire with sparse irregular teeth appearing mainly    in the apex areas. Texture: Succulent and glabrous outer whorl    members and grading inwardly in the whorl to silken blades with    fleshy basal areas. Number: Usually 7 to 9. Size (at full bloom):    Base-tip dimension — 5 mm to 40 mm. Width (at widest part) dimension    — 5 mm to 14 mm. Color: The sepaloid series of tepals are    predominantly R.H.S. 74 A (red-purple group) with basal portions    lacking pigment. The outermost and smallest tepals can have R.H.S.    146 B (yellow-green group) bases.-   Tube laminating series of tepals — general: Tepals inserted on ovary    and basally united below the throat as outer laminations on the    perianth tube and with progressively greater amounts of basal fusion    inwardly in the whorl. Shape: Grading inwardly in the whorl with    progressively longer base-tip dimensions and with blade areas    changing inwardly from ovate to broadly elliptical and with acute    tips. Entire margins with sparse irregular teeth mainly in apex    areas. Texture: Succulent, slightly fleshly basal areas with silken    blades. Number: 6 to 11. Size (at full bloom): Base-tip dimension —    35 mm to 44 mm. Width dimension — 15 and 20 mm. Color: The margins    and distal ends of the tube laminating series of sepals are R.H.S.    74 A (red-purple group) on both the abaxial and adaxial surfaces.    The central, basal portions of these tepals lack pigment. The    attachment interface to the tube can be R.H.S. 74 A (red-purple    group).-   Tube forming series of tepals — general: Tepals basally united to    form a hollow perianth tube that is inserted on ovary and equipped    with a irregular carina (keel) at the throat. Shape: Perianth tube —    Elongated and ellipsoidal to oval in cross-section. Blades —    Generally elliptic to broadly elliptic with ovate tendencies and    with acuminate tips. Entire margins with sparse, irregular teeth    mainly in apex area. Carina (keel) — Transcending and irregular.    Texture: Perianth tube — Thick, succulent, and slightly ribbed.    Blades — Translucent and silken. Carina (keel) — Fleshy. Blade    number: 5-8. Size (at full bloom): Base-tip dimension — 65 to 70 mm.    Perianth tube — Base to throat length is 35 to 40 mm. Color (at full    bloom): Perianth tube — R.H.S 155 B (white group). Blades — R.H.S.    74 A (red-purple group). The central portions of the blades just    above the tube are R.H.S. 155 C (white group). Orientation at full    bloom: The blades of tube forming tepals are reflexed, the tube is    angled from the axis of the ovary.-   Androecium (stamens) — general: Numerous exserted and diadelphous    stamens with one group having filaments basally fused to the    perianth tube and the other group having filaments basally united to    form a nectary housing. Filament: General — Translucent and glabrous    with anther connective. Shape — Long, slender and gradually tapering    from base to anther connective. Texture — Glabrous and silken. Color    — Translucent white R.H.S. 155D (white group). Number —    approximately 80. Size (at full bloom) — Length: 50 to 65 mm.    Anthers: Shape — Rod shaped. Size — 1 mm long. Texture — Course or    grainy. Color (pollen color) — R.H.S. 39 A (yellow group).-   Gynoecium (pistil) — general: Compound, parietal placentation with    united style surrounded by an annular diffuse nectary at its    insertion. Style: General — Stout and inserted in ovary. Shape —    Elongated. Texture — Fleshy and glabrous. Color — R.H.S. 46 B (red    group) just below stigma, changing to 71 B (red-purple group) at its    base. Size (at full bloom) — 65 mm long. Stigma: General — Exserted    and erect with anywhere from 4 to 7 inner marginally adhering lobes.    Shape — Elongated and tapering toward lobe tips and having    relatively blunt apices. Texture — Fleshy and smooth with short    glutinous hairs. Color — R.H.S. 74 A (red-purple group). Size — 4 mm    long.-   Ovary: General — Thin epidermis and distally located concavity, and    with a single cavity usually having 6 or 7 carpels with numerous    ovules. Shape — Terete to ovoid and generally broadening from    insertion to floral end. Texture — Succulent and glabrous with thin    outer epidermis. Size (at full bloom): Height — 7 mm. Width — 9 mm.    Color: 145 A (yellow-green group).-   Fruit: Generally flowers wither and become desiccated along with the    ovary and together they fall of the plant without having produced    fruit.

1. A new and distinct variety of Cactaceae plant, substantially asherein shown and described.